mother
moth-er · noun
Definitions
noun
- 1.
A female parent.
- 2.
A form of address for one's female parent.
- 3.
Something that is the source or origin of something.
- 4.
A title for the head of a female religious community.
- 5.
To bring up a child with care and affection.
- 6.
To be excessively protective of someone.
- 7.
Relating to or characteristic of a mother.
Forms
plural: mothers
Related words
Etymology
From Old English "modor," from Proto-Germanic "moder," from Proto-Indo-European "meh₂ter." One of the most stable words across Indo-European languages, appearing with similar forms in Latin "mater," Greek "meter," and Sanskrit "matar."